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Session F11: Modeling and Simulation: Results of Strategic Studies

SWAC/NAVWAR Resilient SATNAV: Primary/Sovereign capabilities
Daniel DeVargas, USSF SWAC/NAVWAR; Erik Lundberg, The MITRE Corporation; Mike Orr, USSF SWAC/NAVWAR
Location: Ballroom D
Date/Time: Wednesday, Jun. 4, 5:05 p.m.

The Space Warfighting Analysis Center (SWAC) Spectrum Warfare Program (SWP) Navigation Warfare (NAVWAR) Division presented a PNT Force Design (FD) during the USSF Force Design Conferences in December of 2024 and 2025. SWAC is responsible for conducting analysis, modeling, wargaming, and experimentation to create and provide authoritative operational concepts and force design guidance for the USSF at large.
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is the gold standard of PNT systems and consists of three segments: space, ground control and user. The space segment was initiated on February 22nd, 1978, with the launch of the first Block I satellite into a Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) with an altitude of approximately 20,200 km. All subsequent blocks of GPS satellites have been launched into the same MEO altitude but with the inclination reducing from 63.3° to 55°. The consistency of GPS orbits has allowed for a progression of orbital precision in transitioning from legacy navigation message definitions to the modernized and civil navigation definitions. While these improvements are welcomed by all users of GPS, they have simultaneously made consideration of new architectures extremely challenging. With the rapid increase in technology and dissemination of applications of new technology, the issue of backwards compatibility can now be considered a factor, but not a criteria, in reviewing alternate PNT architectures.
The proliferation of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations and the experience with Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites allows for the US Space Force (USSF) to consider new orbit regimes for PNT. The Space Development Agency (SDA) is planning a LEO effort for several capabilities, including PNT, and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is operating Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3), a PNT satellite in GEO. These new PNT systems will prototype capabilities in novel orbits, expanding the possibilities of future GPS orbits.
This brief will discuss the recommendations from the SWAC/NAVWAR division on the approach of accomplishing resilient SATNAV through sovereign capabilities to include GPS.

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